willsteenlandan

IMDb member since April 2018
    Lifetime Total
    25+
    Lifetime Plot
    1+
    IMDb Member
    5 years

Reviews

The Gentlemen
(2019)

Real Sophisticated Tings
This is early Ritchie; unapologetically crypted, woven, streamlined and bolshy. Kant is repetitive & real and feels like an up yours to the 'biz' - any business to that matter but particularly this one.

The breakdown of weed etymologically rise to skunkhood is important. For this, social issues catergory, goes where few reporters have ever gone; that gentry lands of the country grubby hands moulding the youth crime in London. This is the surprise under the sleeves of the top notch suits / clothing - the external layers that identify the whose who in these well-heeled crews.

And, as matter of personal taste. The music element / Grime as a popular culture commodity opens Ritchie's voice to a whole new audience. Outsnading performances by perfectly cast Media loathing Hugh Grant ( perfect), Mr Hearthrob Mathew McConaughey, Henry Golding, Jeremy Strong and the the incredible Cockney Cleopatra Michelle Dockery - who is perfect, raw and her nature on screen has been missed, which just proves that more women characters only increase the value to any 'gangster' genre film - Goodfellas wouldn't be Goodfellas without the women.

Don't miss out watch it on the big screen, it's worth every penny.

Unbelievable
(2019)

Phenomenal craft
This is missing from your voyeour menu. As the title indicates it is unbelievable - excuse the pun - the story perfectly weaves through sharp suspense and soft tension punctuated by ( again, pun alert) unbelievable dynamic characters that feel wholeheartedly natural. A layered story based on true events, layered story structure which keeps you hooked in the human nauance of it all: rape, I have often said on here, is rarely approached but once in a whole through a short film or a true original series like Unbelievable it is told with heart and a craft of sophistication you have never seen before, particularly never before from Netflix. Do yourself a favour and don't waste reading or hearing about it, just dare to dive in - it will not disappoint - in fact you might just like yourself a bit more for darling to watch a bold powerfully dramatised piece of work. Toni Collette, Merritt Weaver, have a discernible taste for good lasting penetratble characters - one to watch, the talent that is Kaitlyn Dever whose performance is magnetic.

Tell Me Who I Am
(2019)

Dark Bold Twisted Honesty ***** London Film Festival 2019
Another film I watched during LFF 2019, is an absolute must see. Two brothers, caught in a dark bold twisted story on fame, fortune, sex, drugs and murky secrets. It is a film on the power of self- compassion and human spirit. It is moving to see the abuse play out a mysterious coercive thriller-like way. Congratulations to the brothers behind this phenomenal personal true story.

The Souvenir
(2019)

Watching paint dry - ** London Film Festival 2019
The best most entertaining part of the film is watching an NFTS Doc tutor, Dick Fontaine, on screen.

It is a hard watch for all the wrong reasons. Despite the natural performances from lead Swinton junior, Swinton senior, and the mad importance of the themes - it simply is a dull watch. Which begs the question on the funders who backed the project despite it needing much needed injection they call "development".

For Sama
(2019)

Outstanding ***** - London Film Festival 2019
You will never see a film like this in your life. Joy, laughter, fear, Suspence, Thriller, Drama, Family, Horror - it is a documentary that tells a story using fictional devices by way of voiceover, narration, a novel approach to a heart-thumping action filled documentary. Waad is an brave filmmaker in her own right and courage is the only virtue a filmmaker needs.

All I a left to say is, You will never see a film like this in your life. This film is destined for the BIG WINS this year.

Farming
(2018)

Farming versus Present-day rhetoric - London Film Festival
The timing of this film must be written in the stars. It is an original twist on a themes of family/ racism / fascism. Profound moments of child craving for a family and intimacy, alongside abusive grooming. It punches you in the stomach. Kudos to the writer/director who worked tirelessly to get the project on screen an the major U.K film funders stayed away from it. He also took the project to Creative England's iFeatures but didn't make the cut... In a way, it works to the writer/directors hand to have a told a bold British story based on a True Story with Hanway films. Watch & Support playing now!

Marriage Story
(2019)

Exceptional film ***** London Film Festival 2019
This is a once in a era type of film. Noah Baumbach storytelling / directing is exquisite. It has all the ingredients of; When We Were Young meets Squid and the Whale, though in all honesty, its far more sophisticated in the depth and the weaknesses of the human condition. To be a little too real is to admit that my parents seperated and I suppose this film was healing in a profound and heartfelt way. The Writing & Directing is flawless.

The Favourite
(2018)

Hyper hyper
Hyper real hyper fantastical hyper period. A trippy film, psychedelic at times, performances stand-alone with raw backed authenticity - frankly, I loved everything about it I should hate.

Widows
(2018)

Worthy of golden globe win
Not that McQueen needs a gong but the film - the remake - the premise and the execution of this film from the opening frame to the last note on the credit is created with finesse. Highly highly recommend. Side note: And, so why did golden globes snub it? Hmm let me think long and hard about that. No need, how many of those voters, men behind the envelope have ever watched a film lead by all women cast? None of them is prolly the answer.

While We're Young
(2014)

Ah, man
Ah man, this is a great film to watch. Ridiculously well performed, naturalistic and so... awkward...you literally want to scream back at the characters. Cool exploration of the unsaid.

Narcissist versus narcissistic is well told without preachy judgement. And I laughed I rarely laugh so cheers ppl!

Tin Star
(2017)

Season 2
Tim Roth feels a bit unconvincing in series 2??? What's that about?!! second season is disjointed.

Mamoon
(2018)

Story
This film surprised me in a great way. Highly recommend

John's Gone
(2010)

Narrative short
Strong narrative, structure and performance. Originality is this Shorts excellence.

Been So Long
(2018)

missing excellence
On paper this film ticks all the boxes, on screen its fantastical execution carries no weight leaving you a little unfazed by all the jazz. Shame, British stories need to stories which transcend but not ones that are poorly tacted on with cheap 'devices'.

Bodyguard
(2018)

I can't believe we paid for this
A very disappointing series. Poorly crafted with cheap gasps cheap fearmongering. Its the type of 'story' that purports islamaphobic agenda. Which makes one wonder what type of gangsters were behind this series... Sadly, the narrative is over-done, over-rehearsed and out-dated and does not reflect the real stats of terror.

Thelma
(2017)

Sentiment: Louder than bombs
This film is resoundingly loud: unexpected well crafted narrative twists and turns that tantilise the mind, and heart. Of course, there are some archetype tricks and cinematic devices which service the story and the characters. I have been following this filmmkaers film since his 1st feature - he never fails to surprise and execute excellently.

The Black Balloon
(2012)

penetrating performances
The black balloon is a masterclass in American short films. The performances are standout, remain with you long after the watching the film. Josh & Benn are a rare dynamic family duo unlike the other sibling-teams they break the rules with finesse.

The Challenge
(2016)

hedonistic storytelling
Regardless how I might personally feel about over consumption, hedonism, and the glory of obsessive compulsive spending...that is meaningless self imposed opinion. As a documentary the film is well executed, well-authored and exposes the unconscious pleasures in exotic pets. I wish that had been some history to contextulise the facination with falcons. Needless it is a well produced well told story.

Stealing Silver
(2018)

Maisie
Maisie's performance is penetrating. You leave the screening feeling her emotions. I was hoping the film would have been bolder in places, but it was the choice of the filmmaker to be restrained. Nevertheless the performances are comfortably strong. I wonder how a woman director might have made different choices in this film. Still, it's worth the watch and certainly solicits strength in story.

The Earth Belongs to No One
(2015)

Arresting
This is an extraordinarily bold film. It is the least student film experience you'll ever have. Bewitching, arresting, spellbinding. A lens into the world of poverty, isolation and girlhood. Jessica Barden, gives an exquisite authentic performance particularly. Alana Boden is noteworthy and spellbinding, whose character is a mute. The film is entirely dialogue free. At times I'm watching neorealism at its finest and at others I'm lost to the directors poetic storytelling. It is hard knocks kitchen sink told in hyperreal tones. By far one of the best narrative shorts to have come out of the British film school.

At London Film Festival, the writer/director, said that The Earth Belongs to No One was inspired by true events she had witnessed - the film is a landmark film by a new British voice destined to shake it up. One To Watch, Ani Laurie...

Kendrick Lamar: DNA
(2017)

Visual excellence
A masterclass in authored story telling lead by artist. In his truest sense Lamar's work is that of a renaissance man. This short film is unequivocally one of the best visual essays of 2017.

JAY-Z & Kanye West feat. Frank Ocean: No Church in the Wild
(2012)

Pacing
This film is a masterclasss in pacing and rhythmical cutting. Still extraordinary.

Swimmer
(2012)

Swimming free
Though this film by Ramsay is undeniably Ramsay in stylistically. It is conservative in places, perhaps this is attributed to the fact that the film is a branded film for London Olympics. Though, this takes nothing away from its meditative, visceral trance-like tone. The sound is extraordinary, perfectly timed and lifting the film characteristically. It is beautifully composed and shot. It is merit to the director that she was able to conceive a film which is utterly her own whilst offering a conservative commercial audience a palatable cinema.

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